Safety wringer



Oct. 8, 1940. BERRY 2,217,304

SAFETY WRINGER Filed Nov. 20, 1937 2 SMets-Sheet 2 E g 1 1: -5 6 w IVE/1? ATTGRNEY Patented Oct. 8, 1940 UNITED STATES SAFETY WRINGER David M. Berry, deceased, late of Oakland, Calif., by Eva, M. Berry, administratrix, Oakland,

Calif.

Application November 20, 1937, Serial No. 175,661

3 Claims.

The invention relates to a clothes wringer; and the broad object of the invention is to provide a wringer in which it is substantially impossible for a portion of a persons body tobecome caught.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for releasing a roller of the wringer, which means is actuated by the involuntary reaction of an operator, should the operators hand by some remote chance be placed in danger of becoming caught.

Another object is to provide a wringer in which it is impossible to become scalped or have the hair puller out, because of the hair becoming caught in the wringer.

Further objects of the invention include the provision of a wringer in which things cannot become wrapped around the rolls; which may be operated safely at high speed; which has no stationary surfaces or edges over which the go clothes must drag; which will wring clothes without tearing 01f buttons; and in which a roller may be quickly reset after release.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing will be set forth in the following description of the invention. It is to be understood that the inventor does not limit himself to this disclosure of species of his invention, as he may adopt variant embodiments thereof within the scope of the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a wringer embodying the improvements of the invention; and

Figure 2 is taken in a Figure l.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in the same plane as Figure 2, and shows the roller release toggle on somewhat larger scale.

Figure 4 is a similar fragmentary sectional View, illustrating the release toggle in collapsed position; the toggle in this view being shown in side elevation.

Figure 5 is another fragmentary sectional View, taken in a plane indicated by the line 5-5 of a vertical sectional view of the same,

Figure3, and shows a front elevation of the toggle in extended position.

Figures 6 to 8 are fragmentary views showing the pressure roller and release means infront elevation, and illustrating the several different positions of the release mechanism.

The ordinary clothes wringer comprises a pair of rollers between which the clothes are passed. For. safety purposes the upper roller is frequently plane indicated by the line 22 of made releasable, anda lever is usually arranged on the upper cross bar of the wringer for releasing the roller. Such wringers do not prevent a person from becoming caught, but simply make it possible for an operator to release herself after being caught. Furthermore, the release means requires independent thought and action on the part of the operator to press the release lever at a time when cool thought and action are not dependable. Another serious defect of these wringers is that when both hands become caught, or the hair of the operator becomes caught, the release lever may be very difficult if not impossible to operate at all. The improved wringer of this invention overcomes these and other disadvantages of the ordinary roller wringer.

In terms of broad inclusion, the wringer embodying the invention comprises a web for conveying clothes through the wringer, and means for applying pressure to the clothes on the web. The pressure is preferably applied by a roller overlying the web, and a supporting roller is preferably provided under the web. The supporting roller also preferably functions as a drive roller for moving theweb. The pressure roller is releasably mounted, and means are provided for releasing this roller. The release means preferably includes actuating or trigger elements overlying the web adjacent each side of the pressure roller for initiating the release action. Means are also'provided for resetting the roller.

In greater detail, and referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the wringer embodying the invention comprises a pair of end frames -2 connected together at their lower ends by a pair of spreader plates 3, and at their upper ends by a channel bar 4. The end'frames are plates of generally triangular shape, being relatively wide atthe bottom and tapering in to the width of the cross bar 4 at the top.

, Anendless web 6 is arranged at the lower portions of the wringer, and is held taut by a pair of freely journaled rollers 1. Web 6 may be of any suitable flexible material such as rubber. The upper reach of the web is supported at its central portions by a roller 8 mounted on ashaft 9 journaled-on the end frames. This roller is positioned to elevate the central part of the web somewhat above its ends, so that both halves of the reach'slope up toward the center. Supporting roller 8 also preferably functions to drive the web; and is .of aluminum, or other suitable material, for frictionally engaging the web. Projections or nodules ll may be formed on the 8111'. face, of the roller. to still further enhance driving slot 28in which a pin29 on the block rides. The

roller I3 downwardly toward the web, and means I I are also provided for releasing the pressure on 7 this rollezx. As shown in Figures 1 and'2, an'. arched spring bar I! is arranged above roller I3 with its ends resting on' the slidable bearing blocks I 6. A plunger I 8 is slidably mounted above the spring bar in a rectangular guideway I 9 held by brackets 2| su ortea'cennsuy of the wringer on the cross bar 4. The plunger is provided with ahead 22 for bearing against spring ,bar I1, and this head-is threaded into the plunger foradjustment relative to the bar. When the plunger is hearing down against the spring bar the roller|3 is'pressed. down against theweb, as will be readily understood. I

v I The plunger is held down by a releasable mechanism comprising a slidable block 23 connected to the plunger by a pair of toggle arms 24. When the toggle linkage is. extended the adjacent ends of the arms abut and the central pivot 26 is ofi center to balance the linkage. In this condition ,a downward thrust on block 23 1s transmitted to plunger I8. Block 23 is held down by a cam 2'! pivoted in brackets 2| and having an arcuate cam .cam has an extension 3| providing a handle normally lying against cross bar 4 but adapted to be raised to rotate the camand elevate block 23. When the cam handle is down with toggle arms 24 extended,- the plunger I8 is in its lower position, .as shownin Figures 1, 2, 3 and 5; and in this'posi- ;tion the plunger bears down on spring bar I! to press roller I3 againstthe web.

Mleansjare provided for releasing the pressure on roller I3. For, this purpose a pair of trigger plates 32 are disposed adjacent each side of roller ..I3, ,abovethe-web Ii.v These plates are mounted on cross pins 33 slidably mounted in angularly rdisposed slots.v 34 inthe end. frames. The cross pins also have fixed thereon a pairof trigger arms .3.6 pivotallyconnected together at 31; one of the arms being. curvedcover to clear the spring bar. ;A shaft 33 1s journaled on the end frames and carries 'a cam 39 disposed adjacent elbow pivot 1260f, the toggle linkage. The shaft also carries a lever 4|, connected to the common pivot 31 of trigger arms 33. An opening is provided in the Iwall;of guideway I 3 between toggle linkage 2'4 and cam 39,,and a spring plate42 is fastened to the guidewayto' project down past the flattened side of cam .39. V v

When either of ,the trigger plates ,32 ismoved inanydirection, the movement ,is transmitted to lever 4|, causing rotationof cam 39. Rotation oft-the latter cam, in either direction, presses plate 42 inwardly against elbow pivot 26 to upset the toggle linkage. This unbalancing ofv the toggle. causes the latter to collapse, thus releasing the pressure of plunger 18 on spring bar II.

When it is desired. totrebalanceor reset the linkage it is'only necessary to ra'ise'handle .3I, thereby elevating block 23 to extendtoggle links I6 -slidably mounted in The" pressure'of roller I3 against the web is thereby. releasedyandthe roller is free to move upwardly.

24. Upon subsequent lowering of handle 3I with the toggle linkage extended, the plunger is forced down against spring bar I! to press roller I3 against the web. Figures 6 to 8 illustrate the various steps in releasing and resetting the mechanism. Figure 6 shows the parts in operative position with handle 3| down and toggle links extended to press plunger I8 against spring bar I I. In this position the roller I3 is; pressed against-web 6 for purpose-of wringing clothes passing between the web and pressure roller.

Figure '7 shows the relationship after the toggle linkage has been collapsed to release the pressure on the roller. The toggle is shown fully collapsed .to illustrate the full distance that the pressure roller is free to move up. Pressure roller I3 is shown separated from. web 6, the amount of this separation of course depending upon what is between the roller and web tending to lift the roller up.

Figure 8 shows handle 3| rotated around to lift block 23 and extend the toggle linkage. When the handle is then rotated back the plunger IB is pressed down against spring bar I1 to place the parts in the operative position shown in Figure 6.

Thus, in order to reset the mechanism it is only necessary to swing handle 3| around and back again.

In the operation of the wringer it will be observed that the clothes are placed upon web 6 at a point remote from the bite between the pressure roller and web. This keeps the operators hands away from the danger point. Furthermore,- the trigger plates 32 being disposed' above the web adjacent each side of the pressure roller absolutely prevent an operatorsv hand from being caught by the wringer, because if the hand is moved in toward the pressure roller the arm will strike the overlying plate to trip the release mechanism. Also, if the operators hair be caught, there is no chance of the head being drawn in to pull out the hair or scalp the operator, because the head will first strike a trigger plate to release the roller.

Still further, it is impossible for a piece of clothes to wrap around a roller in the wringer, because the lower drive-roller 8 is protected by the web, and if an article tends to wrap around the roller I3 it will be peeled ofi byone of the plates 32. Another feature of the wringer is that there is no fixed element or drain plate over the edgeof which the clothes have to be pulled. As a result, the tearing of clothes, or the pulling of buttons therefrom, is largely eliminated. I

It is claimed:

1. A wringer comprising a web for conveying clothes through the wringer, a releasably mounted roller for applying pressure to the clothes on the web, an extended toggle for holding the roller in operative position, means for collapsing the toggle to release the roller, and a release plate extending longitudinally over the web and operatively connected with said collapsing means.

2. A wringercompri's'ing a releasably mounted roller, an extended toggle above the roller for holding it in operative position, means for collapsing the toggle to release the roller, and means engageable with the upper end of the toggle for lifting the collapsed toggle for extending it and for lowering the extended toggle to reset the roller. 3. A wringer comprising a releasably mounted roller, a plungerslidably mounted above the roller forl holding itinjoperative positionwhen the plunger is down, an element slidable above the plunger, a toggle connecting said element and plunger and providing a compression link between the latter parts when the toggle is extended, means for collapsing the toggle to allow the plunger to move up to release the roller, and

means for lifting said element to extend the toggle and for lowering the element to move the plunger down to reset the roller.

EVA M. BERRY, Administrwtrizc of the Estate of David M. Berry, 5

Deceased. 

